Looking to upgrade my desktop setup - sensible vs interesting options

[nirurin]

My current desktop setup (for the past like 10 years) has been a pair of creative T40s. I figured it was about time I upgraded.

Its a big desk, but its L-shaped so with where the speakers will end up, ill be within abiut 50cm of the left one while the right one will be closer to 1m away. Not much I can do about that due to the double monitors I use.

To prevent the speakers from being too ridiculous, while theres not much limit on height and width, the depth has to be pretty shallow. 15-20cm is probably the higher limit. Though ofc with speakers its the depth that usually matters with sound quality so oh well. Always compromises with these things!

I think if I ran a short list of things I'm looking at it would currently be:

D3V (or LP-UNF) - Probably the best sound for the sizes and price, but boring and ugly. The sensible pick.

Kanto Ora4 - Seems to have everything I'd need. Minimalist. Probably the sensible winner, even if its worse than the D3V. Not sure theres any alternatives within the budget and size.

The rest of the options seem to end up being edifiers or audioengine and i've been warned off both so... I dunno, maybe not.


However I then have the option of going the more enthusiast/complicated route. Which I've never done before with speakers (obviously). if I go passive then pick up a dac/amp I could go -

AIYIMA T9PRO - Chinesium, but seems to have had some good ratings, and looks more interesting than most little black wire boxes we see these days.

Fosi MC331 - theres very little abiut this online. Seems to he similar to t9pro but with usbC and a nicer appearance.

AIYAMA A80 - overkill, but assuming it doesn't die itll be enough to power anything id ever want in future. And nice screen features.

O-Noorus D3pro - also overkill, but super nice and clean.

I could get the Ampapa D1 but then id eventually need to get a dac too so ... undecided if thats worthwhile. A80 probably sufficient (already overkill).

Then I could get some

+ HiVi-Swans Oasis 140

+ Polk ES10

+ Spektor 1... probably too big though. Too deep. Might just work but it's pushing it. Plus the reviews seemed good at launch but this site seems to hate them.

+ Micca MB42X Gen2


Long post already so ill see what feedback I get. I suspect itll be "get the kanto" which is fine and valid. I guess I was just looking for an excuse to get the "big boy" toys aha

 

[JeffS7444]

You may not care for their industrial appearance, but the Adam D3Vs really do seem like they'd be a good fit.

 

[nirurin]

You may not care for their industrial appearance, but the Adam D3Vs really do seem like they'd be a good fit.

I wouldn't have said industrial... they're much more "Early 1990's Logitech" lol.

I keep thinking they are beige, but they only come in black or white. But in my mind they're automatically IBM coloured. I'm sure I'd get over it eventually. I'd just get them in black and shove them out of the way.

 

[kemmler3D]

If it were my money it'd be the D3V all the way.

But among the other options you mentioned, I'd get the Micca or Polk speakers.

This is based on my recollection of measurements I've seen... not super rigorous.

 

[SlowJim]

Check out the kali lp-unf. They come in white which is a cool look

 

[nirurin]

Check out the kali lp-unf. They come in white which is a cool look

Yeh that's listed along with the D3V. I think they're both pretty.... early 90s IBM lol. They're both very "cheap computer speakers from Argos" in appearance.

Which is a shame, cos by all accounts they're amazing in actual performance. I may just get one or the other, as function is more important really, but y'know sometimes you just want something that has some aesthetics too.

 

[kemmler3D]

Yeh that's listed along with the D3V. I think they're both pretty.... early 90s IBM lol. They're both very "cheap computer speakers from Argos" in appearance.

Which is a shame, cos by all accounts they're amazing in actual performance. I may just get one or the other, as function is more important really, but y'know sometimes you just want something that has some aesthetics too.

I don't disagree on the aesthetic points. The D3V are small enough that you could 3D print a cage/grille-like thing and wrap acoustic fabric around it, though. So instead of IBM looks you'd have something more like homepod looks. Just a thought.

 

[Ellebob]

If you want to add a little color to your life you can get the LP-UNF in red or blue.

Genelec can also comes in a variety of colors but that's a different price category and about the same size speaker won't go as good deep for bass as the D3V or LP-UNF.

Another aesthetic option would be something like the Kef LSX II or LSX II LT. Unfortunately, you always pay more for aesthetics and get LT version you need an optical connection for your computer as it doesn't have an analog input. Sometimes you can find some good sales on these but still considerably more expensive than the Kali or Adam.

The problem with passive speakers in this size is they will typically lack bass compared to a D3V or LP-UNF. Having speakers that can go a little deeper will definitely give a richer, fuller sound. None of these small speakers are going to shake the foundation for bass but having that richer, fuller sound I find is very nice for enjoyment of music.

 

[XDM]

The rest of the options seem to end up being edifiers or audioengine and i've been warned off both so... I dunno, maybe not.

AudioEngine I understand completely, but no need to write off Edifier immediately right?

 

[nirurin]

AudioEngine I understand completely, but no need to write off Edifier immediately right?

I mean I kept seeing them as being like... I can't think of an example, but basically a very well advertised brand that makes cheap crap. I have no experience with them but I figured I'd listen to the prevailing wisdom.

However I also just took a look and they seem to not have any passive speakers other than the P17, which would fit and is front ported so that's an interesting option (if it's actually any good).

I had actually already purchased a set of speakers yesterday. I found a set of Kef Q1-metas for £325 new (including all the wiring I'd need) which seemed an ok deal and the concentric drivers (from what I could learn) were meant to be a good option for near field. However the company I bought them from said there would be a 2 week delay before they have stock so I can still cancel the order..

The edifiers would be a lot cheaper.

Edit:
I had thought the Kef Q150 / Q1-meta was meant to be 'the one to beat' in this size/price region, but now I'm wondering if maybe I should go for the Polk ES-15 as they are roughly the same size and while the Polks have a rear-facing port it seems it gets redirected to the sides by their 'power port' thing so putting it near a wall shouldn't be as much of an issue. On the Kef I planned to just plug the port with the included plugs.

So... yeh. Maybe Polk ES-15. Would save me a ton of money. And imo they actually look even nicer than the Kefs.

 

[Jiraya369]

I mean I kept seeing them as being like... I can't think of an example, but basically a very well advertised brand that makes cheap crap. I have no experience with them but I figured I'd listen to the prevailing wisdom.

However I also just took a look and they seem to not have any passive speakers other than the P17, which would fit and is front ported so that's an interesting option (if it's actually any good).

I had actually already purchased a set of speakers yesterday. I found a set of Kef Q1-metas for £325 new (including all the wiring I'd need) which seemed an ok deal and the concentric drivers (from what I could learn) were meant to be a good option for near field. However the company I bought them from said there would be a 2 week delay before they have stock so I can still cancel the order..

The edifiers would be a lot cheaper.

Edifiers are not bad at all, but they're cheaper and worse than the D3V, Kanto ORA, etc.

I have a D3V and by God is it good. I actually really like the look so it's no issue for me, the grill is a very nice touch as i dont have to worry about touching the woofer or something lol. Don't need to have any extra stands or anything, just plopped them on my desk with the given stands and they just work.

There's the Kanto ORA with all their different colour choices and they're an excellent pair as well, not too sure about the Ora4 though, only the ORA got reviewed by the great James Larsen for Audioholics and i had so much fun reading his review I was thinking of getting an ORA even though it was a bit worse (imo) than the D3V lol

 

[nirurin]

Edifiers are not bad at all, but they're cheaper and worse than the D3V, Kanto ORA, etc.

I have a D3V and by God is it good. I actually really like the look so it's no issue for me, the grill is a very nice touch as i dont have to worry about touching the woofer or something lol. Don't need to have any extra stands or anything, just plopped them on my desk with the given stands and they just work.

There's the Kanto ORA with all their different colour choices and they're an excellent pair as well, not too sure about the Ora4 though, only the ORA got reviewed by the great James Larsen for Audioholics and i had so much fun reading his review I was thinking of getting an ORA even though it was a bit worse (imo) than the D3V lol

As I already have an amp et al I probably won't get active speakers. May as well use the things I have.

But I am now leaning toward cancelling my KefQ1s and maybe getting Polk ES-15s. A lot of people still seem to say the RB42's are better (even though they're a lot smaller) but this forum seems to really dislike those so it's tricky. Unfortunately where I'm from there's no option to test them in person first, just have to buy them and return them if they're terrible.

 

[HeadDoc12]

Any interest in Vanatoo? I LOVE my Zero Pluses!

 

[nirurin]

Any interest in Vanatoo? I LOVE my Zero Pluses!

I did look at those, but they go for around twice the price of a Kef Q1 Meta so I quickly disregarded them lol.

 

[Jiraya369]

As I already have an amp et al I probably won't get active speakers. May as well use the things I have.

But I am now leaning toward cancelling my KefQ1s and maybe getting Polk ES-15s. A lot of people still seem to say the RB42's are better (even though they're a lot smaller) but this forum seems to really dislike those so it's tricky. Unfortunately where I'm from there's no option to test them in person first, just have to buy them and return them if they're terrible.

dont get big speakers if you're too close, it doesnt sound good. I had a T5V and i had to return it cus it didnt sound right at all till 0.8m and only sounded nice at 1m+.

If you want quality audio you dont need anything more than the Adam D3V, maybe if you want louder sounds yeah, something bigger at a distance but not much else can truly nuke it. The only real upgrade is just adding a sub.

If you have the option to return stuff, feel free to experiment, im just saying that you have the option of getting hassle free, high quality products already that are perfect for your use cases.

 

[XDM]

The only real upgrade is just adding a sub

Which of these small desktop speakers offer an RCA sub out with a crossover though?
I think only the Kanto Ora has a 80Hz crossover built in? But it doesn't have dip switches for near wall placement like the Adam Audio and Edifier speakers.

 

[Jiraya369]

Which of these small desktop speakers offer an RCA sub out with a crossover though?
I think only the Kanto Ora has a 80Hz crossover built in? But it doesn't have dip switches for near wall placement like the Adam Audio and Edifier speakers.

im not too sure i dont think any of em apart from the kanto have em.